Still trying to try Pressurewounds

[GwenOnBass]

Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]

Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...

Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.

Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.

The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and

absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!

Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.

Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".

Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

 

[Killing Floor]

In which the hero demonstrates why there is no best string, just best for you.

 

[klaatu]

Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]

Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...

Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.

Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.

The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and

absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!

Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.

Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".

Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

I had Pressurewounds on all my full scale basses but when I switched to short scales I had flats on all of them. About one month ago I had Pressurewounds put on my recent purchase of a Fender Japanese Jazz Short Scale and I'm liking them all over again. Of course a lot of string noise from playing flats for some time which affected my fretwork. The guy I took lessons from would say the Pressurewounds are the best of both worlds. My Acinonyx Cat V1 came with GHS Precision Flats but I'm thinking of Pressurewounds next. Also, I bought the Short Scale Jazz because I was missing a Jazz but at 70 they're a bit heavy for me. My Fender Japanese SS Jazz weighs in at 7lbs. and 3oz. Either way I don't like rounds but I do like GHS Pressurewounds!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Yeah flats can mask technique problems
(don't ask how I know this)

 

[bherman]

I’m a long time flats user that recently switched to pressure rounds to just a little bit more pop, and I like them very much. Took me a little bit to get used to the texture but it’s working out just fine. They’re on a Reverend Mercalli

 

[michael_t]

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

And they're right! As much as I love the PWs, I've come to a realization they're not for every bass. They DO sound great on my Jazz.

When I acquired my new Yamaha BB435 (passive PJ) a month ago, I couldn't wait to put PWs on it, only to find out they sounded a little too mellow and tame for what I was trying to get out of this particular bass. As of last night, it's wearing Rotosound Solo Bass 55 (stainless steel pressurewound) to see if I can get a little more bite out of it.

Meanwhile, my P bass is waiting for a set of EB Group IV flats to replace the SIT Silencers, which didn't work out for me unfortunately.

 

[micguy]

Yeah flats can mask technique problems
(don't ask how I know this)

If you don’t hear it, it’s not a problem. A bass is a tool to make sounds - if you’re getting the sounds you want, then everything is good.

That said, I hate flats - other people get good sounds out of them, but I can’t get anywhere close to the sound in my head out of them.

 

[Boundary Effect]

I really liked my time on Pressure Wounds; however, when I dug in and played aggressively, they'd seem to get out of control. Talking with a very experienced player, he used the term "rubbery," which fit my experience. I've been on DR Pure Blues practically into corrosion. I have another pair in the larder, but I wonder if some other string should be tried.

 

[RGerhart]

Love, love, LOVE my Pressurewounds on my Skjold, and on my Fodera. They sound better and better the more I play them.

But, I agree--some basses just speak differently, and different strings are the way to go. Finding that right combination is both frustrating and worthwhile.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]

Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...

Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.

Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.

The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and

absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!

Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.

Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".

Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

Eeeks!!! Strings are meant to be changed. That is why basses are designed to be able to remove and or replace them. There is no law that says you aren’t allowed to reinstall a set of used string either.

My advice is try your pressure wounds on the bass of your choice. If you like them, great. If you don’t, take them off, throw them in the trash and reinstall the old ones. No real need for consternation.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]

Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...

Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.

Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.

The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and

absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!

Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.

Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".

Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

I’d like to try them as well as many have praised them consistently on the forum.
However you almost can’t find any packs in Europe, certainly none in Italy.
Hence they will always remain a mirage on the background …

 

[Isaac_James]

Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]

Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...

Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.

Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.

The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and

absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!

Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.

Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".

Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds

I personally am a big fan of the sound and feel of these strings, though truthfully I've gravitated toward them for personal need reasons. I have sensory processing issues and both the very bright zingy sound and rough feel of roundwound strings are a bit overstimulating to me. I've got a bass with flatwounds on it and I love it for music that calls for flatwounds, but anything that needs a little more grit and growl (which is most of what I play) calls for my Yamaha BB735 with pressurewound strings. They're bright enough to play hard rock music without feeling like needles in my ear or a coarse file on my fingers.

A unique thing about these strings that often gets overlooked is the material of the outer wrap - instead of stainless steel or nickel plated steel, these are actually a nickel-iron alloy called Nilo Alloy 52. 52% nickel and 48% iron. It's actually most often used for fusing metal and glass because of the way it expands under heat, but it's more magnetically reactive than either nickel or iron alone which makes it an interesting choice for string wrap.

 

[Passinwind]

And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.

You have more than two friends who play them, just sayin'.

And you might as well buy some SIT Silencers to give away too, I prefer the NRL45100L variant.

 

[smogg]

full scale jazz bass + ken smith compressors, mmmmmm

 

[Isaac_James]

full scale jazz bass + ken smith compressors, mmmmmm

For those unaware - Ken Smith compressors are made by GHS, using the same materials and method as GHS's own Pressurewound strings. The differences are: 1) slight differences in gauge, 2) tapered B string and 3) purple silk rather than black. Otherwise they're the same thing, just in a different package.

 

[michael_t]

full scale jazz bass + ken smith compressors, mmmmmm

I do have a set of KS Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T to try on my TRBX505 when it's time for a change.

 

[Isaac_James]

I do have a set of KS Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T to try on my TRBX505 when it's time for a change.

The tapered B string solved the only real problem I had with these strings before, which was a muddy, indistinct sound on that string. I don't know if the spacing is the same on the TRBX basses, but on the 735 the taper ends just before the string hits the saddle when I string through the body. Like it was made for this bass.

(please pardon my dust here...)

 

[smogg]

For those unaware - Ken Smith compressors are made by GHS, using the same materials and method as GHS's own Pressurewound strings. The differences are: 1) slight differences in gauge, 2) tapered B string and 3) purple silk rather than black. Otherwise they're the same thing, just in a different package.

Did not know that. I have had great success with the K.S. version (44-62-82-105-125T) they feel very nice/balanced string to string and sound good to me. They currently hold a permanent spot on my number two bass. I find them a pleasant change from the balance tension nickel rounds on my main bass. (D'A nickels 45-60-80-107-130) Will definitely have to try a set of the GHS. Thanks for the info.

 

[michael_t]

The tapered B string solved the only real problem I had with these strings before, which was a muddy, indistinct sound on that string. I don't know if the spacing is the same on the TRBX basses, but on the 735 the taper ends just before the string hits the saddle when I string through the body. Like it was made for this bass.View attachment 5027008
(please pardon my dust here...)

The TRBX basses are top-load only with no thru-body option like the BB's. I was going to use a spacer at the ball end to make sure the taper doesn't extend too far beyond the saddle.

 

[DavidG]

Try Fodera nickels. I believe they use a pressure wound process. They sound and feel great. (They are round-cores so the tension feels a bit looser than ,say, hex cores).
Great strings.